Stem-cell scientists are still under the shock which they faced after a federal judge ruled that their life's work violates federal law. The scientists are also concerned about their jobs and they have not received any assurance from the nation's largest funder of these studies, the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Talking to Time, NIH director Francis Collins described stem-cell research as one of the more promising engines of scientific discovery. Collins added that the judge’s ruling "poured sand into that engine of discovery."
Two days ago, federal district Judge Royce C. Lamberth ruled that federal government should not fund any research involving human embryonic stem cells. The judge ruled that the government should not fund such researches because doing so means violation of a law, which was passed in 1996 to prevent the destruction of human embryos.
“It was in the public interest to stop the government from implementing its current policy on ESC. Under this policy NIH “may support and conduct responsible, scientifically worthy human stem cell research, including human embryonic stem research, to the extent permitted by law,” said the judge.
Meanwhile, the Obama administration is still thinking of response to Lamberth’s ruling. Talking to reporters, a White House spokesman said yesterday that the ruling would have long term consequences and it would block the Obama administration's expansion of embryonic stem-cell research. The ruling would also halt the research authorized by Obama’s successor President Bush in 2001.
"We're still reviewing the decision from this judge, but what we've seen so far … this would also stop the research that President Bush had allowed to go forward early in his presidency. So we're exploring all possible avenues to make sure we can do this critical, life-saving research," said Burton.
